Format

      [ COBOL ]
      [ DTR   ]
      [ PLI   ]  EDIT_STRING  IS edit-string
      [       ]
      [ RPG   ]

1  –  Parameters

1.1  –  edit-string

    Specifies an edit string. See CDO_Edit_Strings for detailed
    information on edit strings.

2  –  Description

    The EDIT_STRING field property indicates how to display the value
    of a field element.

    You can specify a CDO generic edit string or a language-specific
    edit string for the following languages:

    o  COBOL

    o  DATATRIEVE

    o  PL/I

    o  RPG

    When you specify a language-specific edit string for a field
    element that already contains a generic edit string, the
    language-specific edit string overrides the existing generic
    edit string.

    You should create a language-specific edit string when:

    o  One or more characters in the generic edit string cannot be
       translated into valid edit string characters for a language
       that uses the generic edit string. Translation of CDO Edit
       Strings for Languages and Products shows how CDO translates
       characters in a generic edit string for COBOL, DIGITAL
       DATATRIEVE, PL/I, and RPG.

    o  A language that uses the generic edit string does not support
       the data type of the field element that contains the generic
       edit string.

    If your programs fail to compile due to edit string or data type
    errors, the language may not support the generic edit string.
    If this is the case, you should create language-specific edit
    strings to exclude this language from accessing the generic edit
    string.

3  –  Examples

    1.CDO>  DEFINE FIELD TRANS_DATE
      cont>   DATATYPE IS DATE
      cont>   EDIT_STRING IS NN"/"DD"/"YY.

      In this example, the DEFINE FIELD command creates the TRANS_
      DATE field element, which displays as a series of three, two-
      digit numbers in a month/day/year format.

    2.CDO>  CHANGE FIELD TRANS_DATE
      cont>   NOEDIT_STRING.
      CDO>  CHANGE FIELD COBOL_TRANS_DATE
      cont>   NOCOBOL EDIT_STRING.

      In this example, the NOEDIT_STRING keywords remove the generic
      EDIT_STRING property from the TRANS_DATE field element. The
      NOCOBOL EDIT_STRING keywords remove the COBOL-specific EDIT_
      STRING property.